MTLNOVEL Chapter 1094: The Rules
The Tianyang Spirit King nodded and said, "You don't have to worry about this. With your performance in this competition, the Blue Golden Tree Clan is now a coveted treasure. The Ancestral Court will also insist that every main city must deploy sufficiently powerful forces to protect your clansmen. At the very least, two powerhouses at the level of the Great Demon King will be sent to escort your clansmen, and it's even possible that an emperor could personally oversee your protection. So, safety is definitely assured."
Tang San was pleasantly surprised and said, "That couldn't be better."
The Tianyang Spirit King said, "What are your thoughts on becoming an emperor? Do you know the difference between ranks 11 and rank 12?"
Tang San's heart stirred, and he replied, "I humbly ask for your guidance, Your Lordship."
The Tianyang Spirit King explained, "When you achieve the rank of king, you touch the laws. But when you attain emperor rank, what you touch are the rules—they represent the upper limit of this plane. However, the rules must not be touched too much; otherwise, you risk being absorbed into the rules themselves. The Tree Ancestor, for instance, integrated too deeply with the rules and ultimately became part of them, merging entirely with the plane. At that point, one would lose everything but instinct, which is exactly what we seek to avoid. For us, we would rather die than integrate with the plane. After death, emperors still have some chance of reincarnation. But those fully fused into the plane will remain in a muddled existence forever, unless there's a major evolution of the plane itself."
"Therefore, when you aim to become an emperor, you must first understand which rule you want to touch. Only then can you find your own path to emperorhood. Previously, your path was clear—following in the footsteps of the Tree Ancestor, as long as you didn't reach the same level of integration as him. But now, you've inherited the legacy of the Crystal Great Demon Emperor and comprehended the power of life and destruction, as well as the saintly power. This opens up more choices for you. Everything else must contribute to your final choice, serving as supports. When you touch the rules, you must remain unwavering and persistent—only then can you smoothly pass through the Emperor Tribulation."
Tang San nodded slightly. Although he was a First-Generation God King, the level of the divine world he previously inhabited was different from this plane. To recover his former cultivation base, he first needed to achieve emperor status here, and as the Tianyang Spirit King mentioned, that required touching the rules.
"Thank you, Your Lordship, for your guidance." Tang San bowed deeply in salute. "Your Lordship, I will lead the elders back to the clan and make preparations for neutrality. I will also select the elders headed to the various main cities. You mentioned before that you'd like to visit the Tree Ancestor; would you like to go with me?"
The Tianyang Spirit King paused briefly before replying, "I won't go for now. Originally, I wanted to visit the Tree Ancestor to seek some inspiration. But now, I see a greater opportunity through you. Once you've become an emperor, I'll make my decision then. Do not rush; to become an emperor, you must build a solid foundation. Even though you're the second-ranked quasi-emperor now, you don't need to overthink it. Diligently strive forward, and any resources you need can be requested through the Ancestral Court. They will fully support you in every way—including luck and other aspects—as Tianyang Great Demon Emperor himself stated, you are likely the most promising quasi-emperor the Ancestral Court has seen in thousands of years. Therefore, you can push forward fearlessly."
"Understood!" Tang San responded eagerly.
The Tianyang Spirit King asked, "Do you plan to marry Pretty Girl before becoming an emperor or after?"
Tang San was momentarily stunned and replied, "Does it make a difference?"
The Tianyang Spirit King said, "Of course it does. If there are no other changes, I suggest you get married before becoming an emperor. This way, you can support each other through the process. The Blessing Life Necklace you gifted her likely reflects this intention as well. She is likely to become an emperor more easily than you; her sword is her path. The rule she touches should be something akin to justice and judgment. That divine tool sword is no ordinary weapon—even we can sense the threat it poses. You should make good use of this advantage."
"I understand. Once neutrality is stabilized, I'll go to Jiali City and formally propose. When we get married, I hope Your Lordship will preside over the ceremony."
The Tianyang Spirit King sighed softly, "That little girl is too clever. Otherwise, there'd be no issue with making Chen Chou your concubine. If you can find a way to convince her, then you'd truly enjoy blessings fit for a king."
Tang San shivered slightly and smiled wryly, "You saw her today; it's unlikely. Convincing her is certainly no easy task."
The Tianyang Spirit King quipped irritably, "A man has to show some backbone when it counts."
Tang San thought silently, 'Easy for you to say.'
Bidding farewell to the Tianyang Spirit King, Tang San returned to the White Tiger Grand Hotel. His visit to the Tianyang Spirit King was to ease relations. Until he became an emperor, he required the Tianyang Spirit King's support within the Ancestral Court—this would make the Tribulation process smoother and ensure someone stood by him during critical moments.
If he could secure the backing of both Tianyang and Earth Yin on the Spirit Monster side, and White Tiger, Undying, and Crystal Phoenix among the Monsters, then he would have complete control over the entire situation.
Becoming an emperor was only the first step—regaining his status as a God King remained his ultimate goal. Tang San was confident that, even facing any emperor now, including powerhouses like the Tianyang Spirit King, it would be nearly impossible to kill him in a one-on-one confrontation. His priority was avoiding being besieged by emperors. For this reason, his relationships within the Ancestral Court had to be handled properly.
Returning to the White Tiger Grand Hotel, Tang San ascended to the top floor. Officially, the purpose was to meet Pretty Girl.
The door opened, revealing Pretty Girl herself. Their eyes met, and Tang San smiled warmly, "Hello, fiancée."
Pretty Girl's cheeks flushed red, and she gave him a playful glare before turning and walking into the room.
Inside the familiar grand suite, not only were the Peacock Princess and Su Qin present, but the White Tiger Great Demon King was also there.
At this moment, the White Tiger Great Demon King's face was full of smiles, clearly in a great mood. Seeing Tang San disguised as Jin Miaolin arrive, he couldn't help but point at him and laugh, "Kid, you're truly remarkable. Time and time again, you surprise me."
"Greetings, Grandfather." Tang San smiled back, forgoing formal titles. Pretty Girl was now officially his fiancée, so calling him "Grandfather" felt perfectly natural.
"Good, good, good!" The White Tiger Great Demon King laughed heartily. "This has been the happiest day I've had in the past five hundred years—not only seeing my precious granddaughter advance toward emperorhood but also witnessing that smug Heavenly Fox suffer. His expression was like he'd swallowed a dead fly; truly a sight to behold."
Tang San couldn't help but chuckle at this.
Pretty Girl retorted with mild annoyance, "Perhaps some people are still sulking over not marrying one of the four Eight-Tailed Heavenly Fox Demonesses. You didn't see it this morning—countless fairy maidens surrounded him, practically throwing themselves at him, and he welcomed every single one."
"Wronged! Truly wronged!" Tang San hurriedly pleaded his case. "My heart is small and can only hold you; there's no room for anyone else. No matter my past life, this life, or any future lives, this will never change."
Pretty Girl's cheeks turned even redder, and she pouted her lips with a faint hum, but her beautiful eyes were already glowing with amusement.
The White Tiger Great Demon King said, "Regardless of all this, this Emperor Battle has ended perfectly. The Heavenly Fox belittled my granddaughter, yet ended up losing to her. That feels like justice served. From now on, you must stay low-profile—avoid unnecessary commotion and focus on solid preparation for emperorhood. The Ancestral Court will provide full support. Once you're ready, you can enter the most core area of the Ancestral Court to comprehend the rules. Defining your rules will be the key to becoming an emperor."